|  | Surgeries Operations | Surgeries

Lumbar Laminectomy & Back Exercise

Lower-back injuries are somewhat common. They can occur in an athletic event, an automobile accident or a household fall or through aging. When a lumbar disc is injured, a surgery called a laminectomy might be needed to repair the damage to restore function and end lower back and leg (sciatica) pain. After the surgery, therapeutic exercises are need to regain full function.

  1. Seated Hamstring Stretch

    • Sit on the end of a hard chair with your hands on the sides of the seat. Extend your right leg until it is in a diagonal line from the end of the chair. Return to the starting position. Do this 10 times and then do the same stretch with your left leg. Take a 30-second break and repeat the stretch. This will increase range of motion in your lumbar area.

    Pelvic Tilt

    • Lie on the floor and bend your knees up to a 45-degree angle. Place your hands on the ground with your palms facing the floor. Press your hips and lower back into the floor and hold the position for three seconds. Return to the starting position and repeat this 15 times. Take a 30-second break and repeat the stretch. This will help regain strength in the lumbar area.

    Bilateral Scapular Retraction

    • Wrap an exercise band around a doorknob or a heavy piece of furniture. Sit in a chair with your feet flat on the floor. Grab the ends of the elastic band and pull backward with your elbows. Hold this position for two seconds and then return to the starting position. Do this 15 times, take a 30-second break and then repeat the set. This will build strength in the lumbar and thoracic (midback) regions and increase range of motion.

    Exercise Therapy Without Surgery

    • In some cases, a herniated disc will respond to rest followed by exercises, making surgery unnecessary. A herniated disc will usually cause pain at the site of the injury, and that pain will often radiate down one leg or the other. If this happens to someone 30 or younger in an athletic event, the first treatment is rest for the injury, accompanied by ice to relieve the swelling. After 24 to 48 hours of rest and ice treatment, it is possible to begin exercise therapy as long as there has been some improvement in the condition. If you feel there is less pain or if you have a bit more range of motion, you may start light exercises. Sometimes this will improve your condition without surgery.

    Exercises to Avoid

    • Avoid weightlifting after you have injured your back. Your main goal is to regain your range of motion and gradually get stronger. To do that, you should not stress your injured back by lifting heavy weights. Use resistance bands, exercise balls and stretches to gain strength. After about a month, you can lift 3- to 5-lb. dumbbells while sitting on an exercise ball, but don't think about lifting heavier weights until you are at least three months past surgery and have the approval of your surgeon and physical therapist.

Surgeries - Related Articles